Kerri Miller
Many of you are already familiar with our Creative Editor, Susan R. Opel. Here at the magazine, she’s the bringer of new ideas, the communicator to our designers, the organizer of projects, and the goddess of Facebook among other things.
You already know she loves taking road trips. (Her most recent road trip left her calling AAA to push her out of a spring snow bank.) She spends her free time organizing her craft room and creating cards, Susan style.
She is a Detroit Tigers fan, a Michigan fan, and a natural-born cheerleader. (If you ever meet her in person, you’ll have to ask her to do the Paper Crafts cheer. Yes, you read that right; she came up with a Paper Crafts cheer.)
But for this birthday tribute, I wanted to dig deeper to find out other little-known factoids that I could share with the Paper Crafts world—tidbits that not everyone knows. So I went straight to her sister, Beth Opel, to get the goods. Here’s what she had to say:
Susan has a real affinity for Miss Piggy, as well as Grover.- Her favorite singer is John Cougar Mellencamp. “Jack and Diane” is her all-time favorite song. (I also have it on good authority that she likes Kid Rock as well!)
- She collects books by John Grisham, Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Sue Grafton.
- She is extremely patriotic and used to have flags and other USA memorabilia all around her apartment, even on her Christmas tree.
- She can’t golf because her chest gets in the way!
Here we have confirmation Susan, 80’s Susan, and cheerleader Susan!
Susan is great to have in the office and is always the life of the party—as long as that party ends by 9:00 pm sharp. This lady is very much a morning person.
Being a former English teacher and lover of the English language, Susan is always coming up with haikus. Here is my birthday haiku tribute for Susan.
Birthday girl Susan!
Creative cheerleader fun.
Have a great year. Sing!
Now it’s your turn. Write a birthday haiku for Susan—remember 5/7/5 for syllables. Susan will pick her favorite to receive a little box of paper-crafting goodness. All haikus must be received by Friday, April 20th at 5 pm MDT.
Happy Birthday Susan!
Just got an email
From Susan, the “Birthday Girl”
A happy day for both!
A super birthday to you, Susan! Puffy {hearts} all around
I feel the same way Mlightner. I don’t remember how to write a Haiku. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Susan.
Susan smiles Brightly
Today, it is her birthday
Loads of friends around
Happy Birthday Susan
With hair of red
A smile that lights up the room.
Life of the party.
Best birthday wishes to you!
Keep up your fun style.
Oh creative Susan.
Have a happy birthday, please.
Then share your goodies.
Today is your day!
Don’t spend it organizing
your paper crafts room.
Today is your day!
Don’t take a road trip away
from your family.
Today is your day!
Don’t spend it practising your
cheers for your home team.
Today is your day!
Spend it making this day the
best birthday ever!
Best wishes on your day.
P.S. That was four (4) haikus for your birthday!
Cheer Cheer Cheer Susan!
Eat a lot of ice cream cake!
It’s only one day!
I don’t have a haiku but I did want to leave a comment on this post because I loved reading more about Susan! And it’s nice that I am not the only one who can’t play golf, even yoga is a hard one, hard to breathe!!! Happy Birthday Susan!
ok here is my little song to you susan!!!
Another year gone,
Susan,its your birthday,yeah!
Still looking chic gal!
have a great day sweetie! will FB you happy birthday too
hugs!
Susan loves Meijer.
One hundred eighty-nine stores–
Can she do it? Yes!
Wonderful tribute and terrific photos!
I’ll have to put on my thinking cap about the haiku. In the meantime, I’m sending my best wishes for a happy birthday to you, Susan!
Happy Birthday to
You Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear…
Okay, that’s all that would fit.
Happiness today
Tigers win and your birthday!
Sing, dance, laugh, Play Ball!
Wishing you and the Tigers many more great days!
Happy birthday Susan-you have one of the world’s best smiles,it always brightens my day.
Susan shines so bright!
Not just on her special day.
But all through the year.
Happy Birthday Susan enjoy your
special day.
Happy Birthday, GIRL! Creative gem of sunshine. Many more of love. Hope you like these greetings, and that the year ahead is filled with love and laughter!!
I really liked my haiku, but my typing skills are questionable. How do you get it so it’s typed as 3 lines??? See above—Mary B.
Today is your day!
Celebrate the true “Blue” way
‘Cause we love you – YAY!
Best wishes to you on your birthday, Susan, from another Michigan lover!
GO BLUE!!!!
Fab Michigan girl!
A toast for amazing you
Best wishes and cheers.
Happy birthday, Susan. Wishing you all the very best and may this year be filled with many wonderful moments. Hugs.
Susan R. Opel,
Glad to be meeting you now.
Birthday joy to you!
Early bird Susan
May birthday joy surround you
Songs, stories, friends, fun!
Birthday cheers Susan!
Creative, kindred spirit.
It’s my birthday too!
What a HAPPY DAY it is for you
Happy thoughts all year through
Hope your SMILING all WEEK LONG!!
Have a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! =)
Bring on the happy
Celebrate your day with cheer
Susan, birthday queen!
Happy Birthday, Susan, and many, many more!
(Mine was just on the 12th and still celebrating.)
hear ye! year ye! all
Susan’s Birthday today, wow!
Miss Piggy sings sings!
hear ye! hear ye! all
Susan’s Birthday today, wow!
Miss Piggy sings sings!
re-submitted, typo error before
Birds sing cheerfully
For on this date you were born
Susan it’s your day
Happy Birthday Susan!
Oh, what a wonderful day
Tis the day you were born
Smile and let the whole world see it
read Susan read -go
no golf for you Susan – no
Happy Birthday -go
Okay, bear with me. This is my very first Haiku ever:
Sing, Dance, Play, Party
Spoil yourself like crazy
Celebrate your day
Sum-mer-time in nor-thern
Mi-chi-gan says it all.
Cel-e-brate Su-san.
Alles, alles gute zum Geburtstag Susan. Have a great year!
Happy belated birthday Susan from one Michigan girl to another.
moi, Susan tiger
mysterious, lovable
ever red white blue.
Happy Happy Birthday Susan!
Susan it’s your day
Have a drink to celebrate
Cheers to you oh happy day!
Susan, birthday girl
Loves Miss Piggy and Grover
Celebrate loudly!
Happy Birthday to you!